Monthly Archives: February 2020

U.S. is 100% dependent on imports of rare earths, USGS says Production climbed 44% to 26,000 metric tons last year The U.S. is deploying drones and other technology as it scours for potential rare-earths reserves at home and abroad to wean the nation off its dependence on Chinese imports. “We’ve been almost 100% dependent on foreign sources of rare earth elements for industrial applications,” Jim Reilly, director of the U.S. Geological Survey, said. “It’s … Continue reading →

2020 Report Highlights the Importance of Mining Minerals for U.S. Economy and National Security The U.S. Geological Survey announced today that U.S. mines produced approximately $86.3 billion in minerals in 2019 –- more than $2 billion higher than revised 2018 production totals. “The data we are releasing today is vital to understanding which minerals are vulnerable to disruptions in America’s supply chains and provides the analytical foundation for President Trump’s broader strategy to make … Continue reading →

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany will seek talks with Bolivia’s next government to revive a deal to exploit jointly huge lithium reserves in the Andean country, as it works to secure supplies for production of electric cars in Europe’s largest economy, officials said. Bolivia and Germany signed a lithium joint venture in 2018 following three years of intense lobbying from Berlin, which said a small family-run company from Germany was a better bet than its … Continue reading →

Bolivia and Germany signed a lithium joint venture in 2018 following three years of intense lobbying from Berlin, which said a small family-run company from Germany was a better bet than its Chinese rivals. But the partnership between Bolivia’s state-owned lithium company YLB and Germany’s privately-owned ACI Systems hit a snag when a governor annulled the decree in November amid political turmoil. The new head of YLB, Juan Carlos Zuleta, told Reuters last week … Continue reading →